“Honey i” is as much a moment in time as it is a song. Maiya Blaney doesn’t enter right away. Instead, we overhear late-night murmurs between the stars of the evening. A tight, pulsing band plays underneath, and only then does the singer arrive. Her voice doesn’t interfere but instead wades over a rooftop breeze. Blaney sings with some soul here, a whisper there. She declares and wonders. There is a performance of talent to her voice that is stage-bound, but the effect of the production is to blend it into other parts. The song pauses a bit; drifts into a soft, confident solo section; and the murmuring conversationalists regain the spotlight. The strange thing is that “Honey i” has a beat, a rhythm, and a sweet voice, and it’s fully layered in symbols of sonic prestige—proficient jazz, restrained tempos, dusky vocals. And yet it strolls, walks, tip toes, and never takes off. It’s not muzak but it’s not quite the music Blaney seems capable of making if she took one foot off the pedal of cool.

“Honey i” is now available via Lex Records (Eyedress, MF Doom) and is the follow up to her previous single “Fumbled”.

track review by Michael Mannix

Order “Honey i” via Lex Records HERE